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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: Patrick Owen <safepatt@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: safepatt1@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Thu, 10 Jun 2010 21:35:03 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?RE=3A_TRANSFER_OF_=A3156=2C000=2C000=2E_00?=

Attn:

RE: TRANSFER OF £156,000,000. 00

I am quite Sure that this mail Will come to you as a surprise Since I have not been having previous correspondences with you.

Actually, One of our accounts, with holding balance of £156,000,000.00(One Hundred and Fifty Six Million Pounds Sterling) has been dormant and last operated three years ago. From my investigations and confirmation, the owner of the said account,died in a plane crash. Therefore, the account has no beneficiary and no other person knows about this account.

I guarantee that this will be executed under a concrete special arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law. I will not fail to bring to your notice that this transaction is hitch-free and you should not entertain any fears as the required arrangements have been made for the completion of this transfer.

I am in close contact with the bank manager here who is my partner and is willing to approve the transfer to any reliable and trustworthy foreigner with foreign bank account because the former owner of the a/c is a foreigner. The account has no written or oral WILL attached to it. I will provide the necessary information and documents needed in order to claim this money if you agree to receive this fund in your account pending my arrival in your country for sharing and on receipt of your Bank Account Details where the fund will be transferred.

We will start the first transfer with £56,000,000.00. At the end, 60% will be for me, 35% for you and the remaining 5% will be set aside for expenses incurred on both sides during the course of transfer into your account.

There is no risk involved as every arrangement has been well perfected. I will furnish you with further details about the transaction only if you are interested.

Cell: +447045708071

Your cooperation is highly needed.

Yours Faithfully,
Mr. Leong Patrick




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